Thank you for your overwhelming response to our magazine. Your notes, letters, and calls have greatly blessed and encouraged us to keep heading on towards the mark. We need it! This has been quite an undertaking that has required tremendous labor at a time when our energy has hit an all-time low.

Some of you have suggested that I write an article on how we survived coordinating graduation, Heather’s party, our conference, starting this new magazine ministry, the death of three friends, the possibility of back surgery for Heather, Jon’s failing health, spending our summer in the Intensive Care Unit with Jon’s sister, Su, whose physical survival has been uncertain since a car accident, and still continue to heed God’s call and fulfill our responsibilities with no break in sight. [By the way, thanks to all of you who helped with Heather’s graduation party by serving the food, cleaning up afterwards, etc.]

From your calls and requests for prayer, we know that you, too, are going through the same trials, tribulations, and cares of this world, “But take courage; I have overcome the world. In Me you have peace. In the world you have tribulation”(John 16:33).

After eleven years of leadership responsibilities, we are so tired we would give up everything for some rest and play—except our souls and our children’s souls—and that is what is at stake. Our nation is on the brink of destruction because its people want to have fun instead of heeding God’s call. For too long they have stopped up their ears, closed their eyes, stiffened their necks and hardened their hearts.

The other day after I called to Josiah to come in from playing outside, I saw him run into the corner of our yard. He stopped up his ears, closed his eyes, and tried to hide in the dark recess of our yard. Yes, I’ve cried, yes, I would like to hide in the little corner of the woods I call home, but my parents’ training compels me to do otherwise. See my earthly father called to me once while I was up in a tree playing, to which I replied, “No Daddy, not now, I’m busy playing.” I never did that again!My parents trained me to drop everything when they called. They trained me to come to them immediately. They trained me to listen to what they had to say and to obey cheerfully. My parents were diligent in training me—I have not been so diligent with Josiah. Sometimes it was just easier to let him go, but God certainly won’t; and since I don’t want to be responsible for any whales in his life, I have determined in my heart to be more diligent in training him.There is no hiding from God, nor should there be, for God’s children are to head for the mark and keep right on going until they reach it. It’s not always easy and that’s why we need to encourage each other on this earthly journey.“But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers in Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end; while it is said: ‘Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked me’” (Heb. 3:13-15). “Therefore … let us lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured…” (Heb. 12:1-2).When I look at the race set before me I cry, but when I fix my eyes on Jesus, I know what my salvation cost Him. I know what’s at stake, I see the joy set before me, I know that only in Jesus will I have any peace, and I know that I can “endure until the end.”Are you on the battlefront? Are you ready to flee? Want to hide and have fun? Wondering if you’re capable? Take your eyes off the enemy and off the circumstances around you. Seek God’s face. Look into the eyes of your Savior and realize what your life has cost Him. See God’s children through His eyes. See God’s plan of raising up a mighty nation for His throne room.Our nation may be falling further and further into the depths of hell, but be encouraged! Our homeschooling families are growing in numbers by hundreds and thousands. They are a people reaching for the Son, and the seeds we’ve sown in faith His light has touched. We are reaping the fruit of our labors, a great harvest for the bread of victory. Our graduation ceremony was a taste of that great harvest. As everyone agreed with us, those kids are our only hope.How our hearts soar, how blessed we are by your godly lives, your sacrifice, your hard work. God is truly raising up a body of people for His name’s sake—a mighty and impregnable fortress.Have you heard His call? Don’t try to hide. When God calls, He equips. We are not worthy; we are not capable; but by His anointing power, He transforms webbed feet into hinds’ feet for high places.Love, Jon and Candy

P.S.Please pray for my dear, sweet husband, Jon, who has recently lost twenty pounds. He has also been blacking out and feeling totally exhausted. We as yet still do not know the cause, but two years ago, he was diagnosed with debilitating degenerative arthritis and a condition that is destroying his spine. Please pray that God will completely heal Jon and allow us to grow old together. Please also pray that God will heal Heather’s spine so she doesn’t require surgery. Thank you so much for praying for Jon’s sister, Su. Please continue to pray that God will remove the infections so that she can get out of intensive care. Her doctors anticipated that she would be in intensive care for 3-4 more weeks after August 9.

Praise the Lord for all the incredible opportunities and blessings God has given this magazine. Leaders across the country are sending letters of congratulations, advertising it in their published books, and several are taking it across the country. The magazine is even being sold at a local Christian bookstore. God is opening so many doors so quickly, we can’t keep up with Him.To Him be the glory, for this is truly His magazine for His people.Our thanks to Joye and Joe Hengst for all their hard work in making the inside of our magazine look so great. They are truly servants and without them, this endeavor would be impossible. And our thanks to Mike Stull for creating our beautiful magazine covers.

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